CHAPTER 3
Jess braced herself for her mother’s fussing that evening. Ever since she’d returned home, Carmel Bradley had looked after her eldest daughter like she was a child again.
When she’d lost the baby at twelve weeks, Jess had been almost pathetically grateful to let her mother wait on her. She’d felt fragile and exhausted and would have simply stayed in bed if Carmel hadn’t gently coaxed her downstairs for food, or out for walks with her dad.
“The doctor says he needs to walk every day for his heart,” Carmel had said. “He’d be more likely to go out if he had a bit of company.”
Jess had guessed exactly what her mother was up to but had played along. The best thing about spending time with her dad was that he never asked awkward questions or talked about anything she didn’t want.
Now she realised that she’d probably been suffering from depression.
Which was hardly a shock, she supposed, given that everything had happened so fast. Just a day after she and Simon had called off their wedding, she’d discovered she was pregnant with Adam’s baby, thanks to their one-night-stand.
A month later, Adam had persuaded her to move in with him, and Jess had told herself that it was fate.
She’d never again make the mistake of a rebound relationship.
She let herself in the front door and basked for a moment in the shabby comfort of her Victorian family home in Dun Laoghaire, half-tempted to simply slip upstairs to her childhood bedroom and chill out for a while before dinner.
“Jess? Is that you, love?”
Carmel – wearing her usual baggy jeans and ancient hospital clogs – came upstairs from the basement kitchen, and gave Jess a quick, shrewd once-over.
“How are you feeling?” Before Jess had a chance to reply, she continued briskly, “We’ll be eating at seven. Nana is coming over – your dad’s gone to collect her.”
“Oh, great!” Jess’s smile was genuine. “It’ll be good to see her.”
“I’d better check on the dinner. Sure, why don’t you come down and chat to me?”
Her mother meant well, but she wasn’t sure she could face any more tea and sympathy.
“Actually, Mam, I might just get out of my work stuff and grab a quick shower before we eat. I won’t be long.”
“How’s the pottery going, Nana?” Jess asked, as she joined the others at the dinner table shortly after seven.
Moira Bradley drank some wine and reached out to squeeze her granddaughter’s hand.
“I’m improving with age, Jess. Now, none of you have noticed what’s different about me.”
Jess glanced at her parents before turning back to Moira. As usual, the eighty-three-year-old was dressed in long, colourful layers, and her short, wavy hair was dyed a bright pink.
Jess looked a bit closer.
“Did you have a couple of new purple streaks put in, Nana?”
“Oh.” Moira put a hand to her hair. “Weeks ago. No, that’s not it.” Putting down her glass, she rolled up the sleeves of her blouse and flexed her arms. “What do you think?”
Carmel frowned at her. “You do look a bit more toned, Moira. Have you started going to that beginners Pilates class in Wicklow community centre?”
“I had a look at it.” Moira tutted. “Full of old people, so I didn’t stay. I’ve been lifting weights at the gym for the past two months. Two months, that’s all – and look how well I’m doing!”
“It’s definitely made a difference.” Jess beamed at her, delighted that Moira was the object of her parents’ attention.
She loved them both, but she was starting to feel stifled.
She figured things mightn’t feel so intense if Zoe, her younger sister, wasn’t currently living in Vegas with her partner Finn.
Which meant she was the sole focus of her mother’s scrutiny.
Carmel gave Tom a worried look. “I hope you’re not lifting weights without supervision, Moira.”
“Don’t fuss, Carmel.” Moira patted her hand. “I have a lovely young gym instructor to help me out. I’ll tell you now, if I was ten or fifty years younger …” She winked at Jess.
Jess grinned in return. Then, as Moira chatted about the gym, she let her mind wander back over the day.
Kate had rung her when she’d got back to the office after lunch, asking if she and Adam had had a proper talk.
Jess knew that Kate hoped she and Adam would get back together, but it wasn’t going to happen.
Anyway, she needed to be on her own for a while.
Eventually she’d move on. So would Adam.
Her insides squeezed at the idea of Adam meeting someone new, and she made herself tune back into the conversation.
“Only you have to be careful, Moira,” Carmel was saying. “Weightlifting is good for your bones but you have to start small. Otherwise you could do yourself awful damage.”
“I appreciate your concern,” Moira said firmly, “but I do want to look well for my birthday party in August. We’re celebrating here, aren’t we?”
Carmel smiled. “Don’t we always?”
Seeming satisfied, Moira turned to Jess. “What about your news, Jess? How’s work?”
Jess took a deep breath. “Actually, I’m getting a chance to do something different for a while.”
Moira beamed. “Excellent, tell us everything!”
Jess filled them in about the movie.
“Is it a whodunit?” Moira asked.
“A romantic comedy, Nana.” She looked at Carmel and Tom. “What do you think?”
“Sounds like an adventure, Jessie.” Her dad winked at her and helped himself to some more potatoes.
“Well, I suppose it’ll be nice to have a bit of a break, Jess,” Carmel said. “I know the last few months have been very tough on you.”
Jess took a deep breath. “And you’ve all been great. But I haven’t had a holiday in a while, and working remotely will be just as good.”
“So what exactly will you be doing, Jess?” Tom looked puzzled.
“Apart from my usual?” Jess shrugged. “I’ll be there to troubleshoot. Not that I can imagine there being much trouble.”
“Well, I think you’re very brave to venture back down to Linford Castle after your last escapade.” Moira’s mouth twitched, and Jess gave a reluctant laugh.
“It’ll be completely different this time, Nana.”